Today I’m taking a look at the variety of cameos available to be worn as Jewellery. The cameo is a picture which stands above the background it is set on – a miniature work of art. Here are just five cameos available from antiquesavenue:

1. The classical Victorian Cameo brooch

The classical Victorian cameo brooch depicts a the profile of a Roman lady. These were hand carved in Italy and brought back from the Grand tour. Sometimes the picture is of the lady who was on the grand tour who had the cameo carved in her own likeness . These cameos are made from shell . When you are buying a cameo like this do hold it up to a strong light so that you can check it for cracks.

2. A Victorian marble cameo

This cameo has the advantage of being carved from marble which was stone white. Marble was not as easy to carve as shell and so usually is not quite so intricate but still very interesting. Again this cameo brooch would have been made in Italy.

3. A cameo Habille

Very rare and very sought after. Cameo habilles are dressed with their own tiny Jewels.  This ring has a cameo habille set into one set – the lady is wearing a diamond. Some cameos are carved so that they depict jewellery being worn ut this is not the same . To be a true cameo habille the piece must have added jewellery

4. A pinchbeck cameo

This Classical gent is Asclepius – son of Apollo and God of Medicine.  In addition to being well carved he is set into a pinchbeck frame. Pinchbeck is a highly sought after gold substitute which had not been available since the Victorian era.

5. A Wedgwood Cameo

Wedgwood cameos are made from jasper and available is a whole range of colours. This ring is white on black. AntiuqesAvenue also has white on blue and white on green cameos. These cameos are not carved but the white areas are moulded and applied to the coloured background in a process known as sprigging. Cameos are available in other colours and colour combinations but these are quite rare. Wedgwood mounted their cameos in gold, silver and sometimes base metal so do check before you buy. If you can see the reverse please take a look and see if the Wedgwood name is present as other makers also produced this type of cameo.